The city's garbage woes continue.
Trash pick-up lagged several days behind over the weekend, as the city planned to switch to privatized service. Darren Nichols, at the News, says the trash problems are carrying over into the week still.
The delays are due to the adjustment to the private companies new equipment and to current city employees rushing to use up sick days, the News says:
"About 30-35 employees are calling in sick or using vacation time, compared with about 10-15 on a normal day, (Dept. of Public Workers Director Ron Brundidge said). Factor in another 13 employees who have already been hired by private contractors and about 32 who were in training with the private contractor this weekend, and there weren’t enough employees to handle garbage collection, he said.
The backlog comes at a time of year when bulk garbage generally increases as well, compounding problems.
Rizzo Environmental takes over parts of the city next Monday, while Advance Services will take over remaining parts of the city in June. The two companies will absorb the 140 employees of the Department of Public Workers, eventually thinning their ranks to 40, according to the News.
The garbage deal—the largest privatization deal in the city's history—will reportedly save the city $6 million a year.
-Danny Fenster
